About the Book:
When newcomer Mercy Windsor arrives in Mercy Peak in 1948 after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood's beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood--an abandoned estate with a haunting history--and begins to restore it to its former glory.
But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of that mountain's lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal, Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Engine No. 8, which vanished years ago, along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention another fabled treasure that--if found--could right so many wrongs.
Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.
My Thoughts:
Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes read
foremost as a story of friendship. The past and present relationship between
Mercy/Marybeth and Rusty unfurled in a combination of narrative prose, typed
screenplay, and pen pal letters. This revealing and progressing of their
relationship came with timeline jumps, but dates and character ages provided
clarification. The story demonstrated the power of friendship and reminded this
reader to value true friends.
Born of Gilded Mountains held some emotionally intense moments and I cried more than once while reading this novel. In addition to the element of friendship, the characters traveled through grief on their way to healing the long-held, soul-deep wounds. The characters’ journeys felt authentic, and I especially liked how shared experiences and community played a part in the healing of the characters.
Although written as a standalone novel, Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes included a brief cameo of characters from her previous novel, All the Lost Places (which I highly recommend). While it took me several chapters to feel invested in Born of Gilded Mountains, I enjoyed the mystery/treasure hunt in the story. Riddles upon riddles, twists and turns… it felt wild and mind-bending, but delightfully unique and curious. 4.5 Stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of
this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
About the Author:
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